bronco doesnt start when warm

[nastybronco]

Hi, I have a 1987 Bronco, full size, 302 efi engine with a tfi ignition system. I have had the truck for about 10 months. The truck always starts when cooled. It has never stalled on me while driving (guess i'm lucky) and runs great. When the truck is warm, the engine will not start. When you turn the key, it has signs similar to a dead battery. There is no solenoid click. If you get lucky, it cranks like you are at the end of your battery life. This is usually enough though to get it running. It does not happen often and its a long wait for it to cool downm. Battery, solenoid, starter, alternator, plugs, filters and ignition control module are new. All the gauges have good readings while driving. Stumped and can find nothing similar on the internet. Need help. Thanks.

[dpesposito]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Any chance your manifold to exhaust donut is torn to shreds? If this were the case, a lot of hot air from your engine would be heating the hell out of the starter. When the starter gets heated, it does one of two things.
1. If it is really heated, you will get nothing, no noise, no rev's.
2. If it is only somewhat over heated, then it will turn really, really , really slow, like its on its last legs... and then give up
The solenoid not clicking (Guessing here) might be because there is not continuity (Or enough) through the starter...

One way to see if this is your problem, run your dear old bronco like you always do, when it will not start, check the starter, if it is hot to the touch, that may be it, you can figure out why that is later, but just now a overheated starter will do exactly to you dear old bronco as you stated. I know this one from a personal experience. Once on a long trip, i actually pulled the starter out, poured my spare radiator water on it to cool it off, stuck it back in and continued on my way. Mine was because of the exhaust, yours may be from that as well, or a bad lead to the or from the starter, resulting in poor grounding. Also, depending on where you bought it from, the start (maybe reman'd) may be having problems.... doubt this though...

Hopefully this helps you out and gl

Originally Posted by nastybronco

Hi, I have a 1987 Bronco, full size, 302 efi engine with a tfi ignition system. I have had the truck for about 10 months. The truck always starts when cooled. It has never stalled on me while driving (guess i'm lucky) and runs great. When the truck is warm, the engine will not start. When you turn the key, it has signs similar to a dead battery. There is no solenoid click. If you get lucky, it cranks like you are at the end of your battery life. This is usually enough though to get it running. It does not happen often and its a long wait for it to cool downm. Battery, solenoid, starter, alternator, plugs, filters and ignition control module are new. All the gauges have good readings while driving. Stumped and can find nothing similar on the internet. Need help. Thanks.

[nastybronco]

thanks for the reply. it would seem i had a loose nut on the solenoid. took starter out and had checked at auto store. worked like a champ. put it back in and truck worked again (started when warm). have not had chance to run for long time (3 hours +) to see if problem fixed. i had engine rebuilt and had new catalytic converter and pipe installed 10 months ago. i will check for the doughnut ring (didnt watch the mechanic install exhaust).

thanks and much appreciated.